Check operated fraud preventive means



A. A. KNEE Oct. l1, 1932.

CHECK OPERATED FRAUD PREVENTIVE MEANS Filed Nov. 29, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet l ill 30 ATTORNEY Oct. 11, 1932. A. A. KNEE CHECK` OPERATED FRAUD PREVENTIVE MEANS Filed Nov. 29. 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 11, 1932.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 29, 1929 H||| Nil INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 11, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT .j oFFicE AARON A. KNEE, OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNORfBYVDIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO VANAK CORPORATION, 0F CHARLOTTE,

PORATION 0F NORTH CAROLINA NORTH CAROLINA, A COR- CHECK OPERATED FRAUD PREVENTIVE MEANS Application led November 29, 1929.

This invention relates to a fraud preventive device and more especially to a coin entrance device adapted to be associated with check or coin controlled apparatus, the purpose and object of the invention being to prevent any coin or check with a smooth face from operating the parts of this device to deflect the check or coin into the check controlled apparatus, but on the other hand 1f the check or coin has aI smooth surface it will return the same to the depositor.

in object of my invention is to provide a coin entrance for check controlled or coin controlled apparatus, in which the coin or check entrance is normally closed and can not be opened except by a coin or check of suitable dimensions, and with a suitable surface there- Another object of my invention is to provide a fraud preventive device adapted to loe associated with checllr controlled apparatus, said fraud preventive device having a slot normally closed, said slot being adapted to be opened only by a suitable coin of proper size and having at least a portion of the surface thereof ext-ending around the entire surface and occupying the same plane.

Another object of my invention is to provide a fraud preventive device for check controlled apparatus in which a coin entrance or check entrance is provided, which is normally locked in closed position and which is adapted to be opened by a suitable coin to allow the coin or check to fall into the check controlled apparatus and associated with the said entrance are additional means adapted to become operative to deflect the coin into the channel whereby it will be returned to the depositor if the surface of th-e coin is not of such a nature as to properly operate all of the mechanisms. My invent-ion is provided with means where y if all of the detecting mechanism is operated it will return the coin to the operator, and if onlyk a portion of the detecting mechanism is operated then it will receive the. coin and pass it to the check controlled apparatus where other tests may be applied thereto as to weight or configuration of the surfaces thereof.

Another object of my invention is `to proseria1 No. 410,451; Y

vide a check entrance adapted to be associated with check controlled apparatus in which a plurality of moving parts are adapted to be operated by insertion of the check, the said parts being so positioned and disposed within the apparatus that if all of the operative parts are operated upon bythe surface of the check the said check will be returned to the depositor of said check, and if the check or coin is made so as to have an irregular surface then only a portion of the devices will be operated, and the coin or check will be de- `liected into the check controlled apparatus.

Some of the objects of my invention having been stated other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is an elevation of my device associated with the casing of a check controlled apparatus, and looking from the back side thereof and with the back cover plate removed;

Figure 2 is a view looking from along the line 2,-2 in Figure l with parts broken away for sake of clearness;

Figure 3 is a view taken along the line 3 3 in Figure 4; y

Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view ofthe coin entrancemechanism taken along the line 4-4 in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5 5 in Figure 4';

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional View taken along the linefG- in Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a coin which is adapted to operate the necessary parts of my device to cause the same to be deposited in the check controlled apparatus;

Figure 8 is a face view of a check which will be returned to the operator by my device;

Figure 9 is a face view of another style of check which will be rejected by my device;

Figure 10 is a face view of another style of check which will be rejected by my device;

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail View of the lower-left-hand corner of Figure 4.

Referring more specifically tothe drawings the numeral 10 indicates the upper portion of the casing'for a check controlled de- .vice with which my fraud preventive means is adapted to be associated. Secured on top of the casing l are the side wall portions ll and l2 of my fraud preventive device with the end wall portions 13 and 14, these ends and side wall portions being secured together by suitable bolts as indicated by thereference character l5. ln the top of the casing l0 is a slot 16 which is adapted to mesh 'with a Vchute i7 which 'leads downwardly from my check selecting mechanism, and to one side of the chute member 17 .is secured the additional chute portion'lS which projects forwardly and emerges vfrom the -side 'wall portion 14. The chute 17 is formed by the 1member-s 19 and 20, the member`20entending 'across and forming the inner side wall portioniof chute l8,and the member 2l forms the Iotherside of vthis chute which leads to the point l22 in -Figure l. Pivotally mounted as vat 23'isia deflecting member 24 which is fixed- 4ly mounted on the torsion wire member 25., which is secured Y'to the member 2O as at 26, and-after passing the point where the swinging member 24 gis secured thereto this wire Imember extends upwardly as at 27 and then 'backwardly -as at 28 against vwhich a trigger member, which 'will later bek described is adaptedto Apress'at times to Ymove the swinging imember 24.

The side 'wal'l member 1.1 has la Vhole cut therein, into which the circular casing 30 Iis adapted to be secured by means of rivet 31, and this casing 30 Ehas zintegral'therewith the end portion 31a Iwith-the coin entrance portion 32, which -is cut out to fit the sizeof the check -or coin which is adapted to loperate this device. The other end of this casing l'is closed by -mean-s Iof a circular disk mem-ber f 533, vwhich hasa-nenlarged portion 34 adapted to lit in a circular hole Ain the other side wall 2portion l2fof1the casing.V Slidabl'y -mounted in the casing 30 is the fixed tubular :member 35 which has -a plurality of longitudinally disposed slots'36 thereimand on the face portion thereof has a like. number'lof radially disposedslots 3-7 -whichcoincide withthelongitudinally ldisposed slots. At the meeting ypoint ofthe longitudinally disposed grooves 36 and the radiallydisposed grooves 37 there iis a circular cavity '39, and deeper circular vcas/ity 40 'in which a pivot wire v4l is mounted, said pivot wire serving as a pivot point `for the bell crank'levers 42, Vwhich are mounted i-n each Jone ofthe sets of grooves 36 and 37.

ySecured to the left-hand end of this member 35 lis -a plate member 44, which is secured to the member 35 'b-y means of suitable screws y45. This rp'late member 44 has araised portionf46 near the central portion thereof, and

aiho'le-47 l-`tlirough which `shaft 48 is adapted to operate, the vprimary purpose of this shaft `bei-ngto serve as `means for mounting 'other sired to eject the same, and to prevent them from being placed into the slot. Located concentrically around this plate 44 is a plurality of sliding pins 50, which have heads 49 on their inner ends, which are adapted to contact with the shorter legs'of the bell crank levers 42.

Secured in the back end of the casing 30 is the `member 33 ras previously described, and

this member 33 has a circular vflange 52 thereon, which is adapted'to normally occupy a position which prevents the rear end of the bell crank levers 42 from allowing the plate 44 from moving .backwardly, and the lower ends of the bell crank levers abut against this Aiange .52 normally, but when a coin is rplaced in the -slot which has a surface as indicated in Figures 7, 8 ,fand l0, it will press all of the pins 50 in at one time, and raise 'the rear ends of bell cranklevers 42, so that they willmiss this circular projection 52, and will allow fthisdisk to slide backwardly and open 'the coin slot to allow the coin lor check to be placed therein.

Mounted within the circular :member 35 is another circular member which likewise has a plurality of longitudinally disposed slots 61 with a like number of radially disposed slots 62 meshing with the slots 61, and in these slots 6l and 62are mounted Yanother setof-bell crank levers`63, which are mounted on a pivot wire 64 which is disposed within a. circumferential slot 65 in member 60, anda circumferential raised portion y66 prevents this pivot wire member'from sliding out of position. The shorter legs of the bell crank levers are adapted to abut against fthe Apins 67 which are arranged concentricallyaround the disk member 44, said pins 67 having the head portion 68 thereon 4which is adapted to press against the shorter leg of the bell crank levers 63. rhis member 60 has the hollowed out portionr70 and the extended shank por- `tion'7-l,-and on this extended shank portion 7l is adapted to be slidably mounted the circular member -72 which has the circumferential projection'7 3 around the rear end thereof, which is adapted to be engaged by the rear ends of the bell crank levers163 unless they` are raised to miss this. This member 72 has the deep circumferential slot or groove 75 in which the compression spring 76 is mounted, the Vrear vend of the compression spring being disposed within a cavity 78 in the circular plate member 33. It is seen that the projection 73 prevents the member 60 from slidingbackwardly unlessthe coin inserted in the coin slot has such a surface thereon as will push vall of the -pins 67 inwardly Aat lthe same` time, and raise the rear ends of all of the bell crank levers 63 to allow the rear ends thereof to pass over the circumferential projection 7 The member 60 has the tubular portion 30 which fits around the shaft 48 Vand a larger bore 8l is disposed in this portion 80, and

Afl() in this bore 81 a compression spring 82 is mounted, one end of the compression spring pressing in close proximity to the portion 80,

ly disposed groove is cutin the inner surface of the circular casing 30, and in this groove the member 85 is secured by means of a screw 86, this groove being designated by the reference character 87, and in this-member 85 a groove 88 is cut and a pin 89 is fastened therein, and on this pin 89 the lever 90 is pivoted, said lever 90 having the circular portion 91 extending on both sides of the member 7 2, entirely encircling said member 72, and in this circular portion 91 pins 92 and 93 are secured, which pierces the circular member 72, and this member 90 extends downwardly through the slot 93 in the circular casino' 30, and in the lower end thereof a trigger member 94 is secured which is adapted to press against the portion 28 of the spring member, which is connected with the pivoted door member 24 to operate the same when the lever 90 is moved backwardly.

It is thus seen that when a coin or check such as shown in Figure 7 is inserted into the slot that the raised portion 95 on the coin shown in Figure 7 will depress the pins 50 and raise allot the bell crank levers 42, and cause the rear ends thereof to fail to engage the circular projection 52, and this will allow the circular block member 35 to slide backwardly, but this operation does not eilect the inner circular block member 60, in which the other bell crank levers 63 are mounted. Now with this same coin as shown in Figure 7 in the machine it is noticed that there is a dotted circle 96 which represents the circle which the pins 67 will occupy on this coin. It is seen that portions along this line 96 are raised and portions are sunken and this will mean that only a part of pins 67 will be depressed to raise the rear ends of some of bell crank levers 63, and unless all of these bell crank levers 63 are operated they will fail to pass the projection 73 on member 72, and theretore the lever 90 will operate, the lever 90 will operate on account of the factthat all of the bell crank levers 63 noth aving been raised to miss the projection 73 will push the member 72 backwardly, which 'carries with it the lever 90 which will cause the lever 90 to push the door member 24 to vertical position, and will cause the. coin to fall downwardly lnormally press these bell crank levers inthrough the chute 97 into the check controlled apparatus. l

A circumstantial slot 100 is cut in the casing 30 and pivotally mounted in this slot as at 101 is a lever 102 which has a weighted portion 103 on one end thereor", and has the downwardly extending linger 104 which eX- tends into the chute 97 through which the coin or check falls, and a project-ion 105 projects inwardly so that when the member 44 55j is pressed inwardly the weighted portion 103` will cause projection 105 to fall in front of plate 44 and hold the mechanism in o-pened position, so as to allow the coin or check to fall downwardly into the chute 97, and in falling downwardly into chute 97 it will engage the portion 104 of this lever and knock the projection 105 from in front of the plate 44, and Yill allow the kparts to assume the normal position as shown in Figure 4.

The member 33 is held in the casing 30 by means of the screw 33a.

The member 35 has a peripheral groove 53 in which the endless tension spring 54 is mounted, said spring serving to pull the levers 42 inwardly.

rlhe member 60 has the peripheral groove 55 therein, in which the endless tension spring 56 is mounted over bell crank levers 63 to .195. wardly into the base of the grooves 61.

The operation of the device having been described when a coin such as is shown in Figure 7 is inserted therein, I will now endeavor to describe the operation of the device when a check such as shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10 is placed therein.

When a check or coin having an even surface is placed in the coin slot all of pins 50 and 67 will be pushed inwardly, and all of :,105 bell crank levers 42 and 63 will be raised, and the bell crank levers 63 passing over the projection 73 will fail to move the member 72 which is connected to lever 90, and therefore lever 90 will not operate and the deflecting member 24 will remain in the position shown `in Figure 2, and the. check or coin will fall into chute 18 and be returned to the operator at the opening 22.

The raised portion 46 on plate 44 is provided to limit the inward movement of pins 67 and prevents the rear end of each of the bell crank levers 63 from being spread apart too far, and also prevents'pins 67 Vfrom eX- tending out too far in the entrance so a coin when being inserted at an'angle to plate 44 will slide over pins 67 and not become caught at the edge thereof by said pins 67.

In the drawings and specification I have setforth a preferred embodiment of my invention, and although specificV terms are employed they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not tor purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being setV forth in the appended claim.

claiim 1. In a Jfraud preventive device for check controlled apparatus, Ahaving a check entrance, closing 'means 'ttor said entrance adapted to be opened by pressure o-n an inserted check and additional means yconnected with :the closing means adapted to be operated by the surface configuration or the check it' vgenuine Ato deilectthe check into the check controlled apparatus.

2. in a check entrance for check controlled apparatus, a casing, a member Aslidably mounted in said casing, a closure :to-r the iront end 01"' said member, a plurality of pins in said closure member, a plurality of bell -crank `levers pivotally mounted in said member, ixed :means mounted in the normal path of said levers, Which levers are adapted vto be spread apart by pressure on said pins to allow the member tovslide to open the check entrance, a second member slida'bly mounted Within the first member, a plurality of bell crank levers mounted in said second member, a plurality vof Kpins in the closure member :adapted to transmit pressure from a check to press against the lbell crank levers to spread the same, a. check deiiecting member `a slidable member 'having a projection thereon over which the second set of bell crank levers are adapted to pass when 4the check is not of a prescribed coniigurat-ion, said second set or levers being adapted to 4have a portion of the set enoafge lthe projection when the check is of a prescribed configuration to operate vthe cle-fleeting member vto deflect the check into the check controlled apparatus.

3. ln ra check entrance for check controlled apparatus, closing means i'or said entrance, means for locking the closing means in closed position, means operable by one portion of an inserted check to unlock the locking means to'allon7 the 'closing means to be lmoved to open position, means voperable by another portion of the check to determine the direction of travel of the check after 'it passes thru the entrance, means for 'holdingthe closing means in open position upon the insertion of a check and means operable Vby the passing of the check thru .the device for releasing said means for holding the closing means in open position.

4.V In a fraud preventive device for check controlled apparatus havinga check entrance, means for normally closing said entrance, a plurality of teeler members mount- 'ed in said check entrance adapted to receive pressure from an inserted check to allow the check entrance to be opened by pressure on the check, a plurality of other feel-er members adapted to be operated by the surface of the check, a deflecting member associated With said other feeler members adapted'to be operated when all of the eeler members are not operated, said deiiecting member adapted to remain inoperative when -allo-fthe eel- 'er members zare operated upon by ythefsurface of the check. y y

5. Ina check entrance 'for check controlled apparatus, a tubular casinfg,a check entrance in said casing, -a tubular member .slidably mounted in said casing, said tubular 'member being hollow, a plate member secured over one end of said tubular member, -a plurality of bell crank levers mounted :in grooves located around tlie periphery of said tubular member, la plurality vo'fslidable pins mounted in said plate'member, .a circular projection secured in the rear endofsa-id tubular casing, said pins being adapted to be pressed inwardly by the pressing tof a vcheck lto raise ythe rear 'ends or' -al'l A01": the bell ycrank levers .to cause the said rear ends `to pass over the said projection on the member in the .rearorx the casing, a second tubular member vslid- .ably mounted Within the :iirst tubular member, a plurality of bell crank levers mounted in said second tubular member, a plurality Aof pins Yin said plate member adapt-ed to be pressed `inwardly by the surface lor a check '5to raise vthe rear :endsyef said bell crank levers, a circular member s-l-idab'ly mounted With relation to the second tubular member and having a Aprojection thereonover which projection the rear ends oit 4the bell crank levers in the second :tubular member are adapted to pass when all ror" :the :pins Aare pressed inwardly, a pivoted lever member pivotally secured at its `upper end in said Acasing and having the central portion :there- `of secu-red to said member -slidably mounted With relation to the secondtubular member, a delecting member associated With the lower end of said lever, two passagevvays locatedon each sideof saiddeflecting member, this ik deiiecting member being adapted to be yoperated by said 'lever when any of the bell crank levers in the said second tubular member ail'to be raised by the pins being pressed by the surface of the check against the plate member, to cause the check to tall into the check controlled apparatus, said ldeliecting means being adapted `to .remain inoperative When all of the bell crank levers vin Ythe second tubular member are raised by the surface of the check pressing on the second set `of pins.

6. In a check controlled apparatus having an entrance, means for normally closing said entrance, means for locking said closing V and means for closing the entrance, a plurality of movable means penetrating said closing means and being adapted to engage the side of a check inserted sidewise, and means operable by said movable means for controlling the direction of the checl: thru the testing device.

8. In a check testing apparatus, means movable by the side of a check inserted side- Wise in the apparatus under pressure and means controlled by said movable means for directing the check thru said apparatus.

9. In a check testing apparatus, having a checl entrance, movable means adapted to engage the side of a check inserted sidewise in said entrance, and means controlled by said movable means for guiding said checkv thru the apparatus. y

l0. In a check testing apparatus having a check entrance, closing means for said entrance, a plurality of mounted in spaced relation in said closing means, and means controlled by said movable members for guiding the check thru said apparatus.

11. In a check testing device for check controlled apparatus having a check entrance and means for normally closing said entrance, means for locking said closing means in closed position, depressible members penetrating said closing means and being movable by pressure on an inserted check, and means operable by said depressible members for controlling the course of the check after it has passed thru said entrance.

l2. In a checlr testing apparatus, a movable plate member, a plurality of movable members mounted in said plate member and against Which an inserted check is adapted to be pressed, and means operable independent-ly by said movable members for guiding the check thru said apparatus.

13. In a check testing apparatus, a member, a plurality of independently movable iembers slidably mounted in said member and against which the side of a check isV adapted to be pressed, and means operable independently by each of said movable members for guiding a check thru said apparatus.

14. In a check testing apparatus, a meniber, a plurality of independently movable members mounted in said member and being engageable by the side of a check under and means operable by any one of said feelers When moved less than a predetermined degree for operating the guiding means.

16. In a fraud preventive device kfor check controlled apparatus, means for deilecting the check into or out 'of the apparatus, a pluf rality of independently movable ymembers far for engaging the side of a check, and means li715 l l1S'. `In a device for Vtesting checks as to A genuineness of surface configuration', a member having an annular plane surface and a circular raised plane surface disposed Within the annular plane surface', a' plurality of feeler members mounted in said member and projecting from said circularv plane surface for engaging the side of a check When pressed against lsaid circular plane surface, and means controlled by said feeler members for directing the check thru said device.

19.v In a fraud preventive device for check controlled apparatus, a movable member, a

second movable member, a deiiector for the checks, a connection between the second movablemember and the deiector for operation of the deflector, a plurality of independently movablefeelers mounted in the first movable member and having other meansv operatively associated therewith and' normally occupying a position to engage said second its movable member When the Y first movable member is moved by pressure on a check placed against said first movable member unless all of the feelers are moved a predetermined amount by pressure on the inserted check.

20. In a device for testing checks as to genuineness, a member having a circular plane surface surrounded by an annular plane surface occupying a receded position from the circular plane surface, a plurality of independently movable members mounted in said member and having one of their ends projecting from said circular plane surface" for engagement With a check pressed against said circular plane surface, and means controlled independently by any one of said movable members for directing said check thru said device.

2l. In a fraud preventive device for check controlled apparatus, a slidable member for normally closing the entrance, a circular raised portion on the face of said movable member having a radlus smaller thanthe Vins check' for which the device is constructed to;7 receive,.means for holding the movable mem-y ber in a position to close the entrance, a fiXed member, a plurality of bell crank levers pivotally mounted in said ymovable member and normally occupying a position to engage said'bell cranks to. prevent pressure on an inserted check from moving the movable member to open position, a plurality of feeler members mounted in said movable member andV projecting from the face thereof outside the boundaries of said raised portion and being engageable by the outer portion of a check for moving said bell cranks to a position Where they Will not engage said fixed member when the movable member is moved, a plurality of other bell crank levers mounted in said movable members, a deiiector, means A in the path of said second bell cranks engageable by said second bell cranks for operation of the deflector, a plurality of other feeler members mounted Within said raised position and having operable engagement with the said other bell cranks for moving at least some of the other bell cranks out'of engagement with said deflector operating means.

Q2'. ln a check testing apparatus, a plurality of independently movable feelers for engaging the face of the check, movable means independently operable by any one of the feelers for defiecting the cheek in one of two directions after its face has been engaged by the feelers, and means preventing movement of the deflector when all of the feelers have been actuated a predetermined degree by said check.

23. In a check testing apparatus, a plurality of feelers adapted to feel the vfacial configuration of a check and means operable independently by each of the feelers for rejecting the check when all of the feelers vare affected a predetermined amountV by the facial configuration of the check.

24. In a check testing apparatus, a plurality of independently movable bell crank levers movable by pressure on an inserted check, means for supporting the check in the front of said bell crank levers, said check being'adapted to have pressure applied thereto, 'to press it toward said bell crank levers, movable deflecting means, means controlled by said bell cranks for controlling the deflecting means, and means for operating the deflecting means when pressure is applied to the check and at least one of the bell cranks is affected below a predetermined amount.

In testimony Wh-erepsf I affix my signature.

ARON A. KNEE. 

